Where the candidates stand on flood protection
The background
Much of Squamish, including downtown, sits on a floodplain at the mouth of five rivers and on the sea, and the Cheekeye Fan faces rare but very large debris flows from Mount Garibaldi. Protecting the town means steadily raising dikes and maintaining hazard structures, which is expensive and relies heavily on federal and provincial grants. 'Climate resilience and aging infrastructure' ranked third among issues in the Chief's reader survey.
In 2026 the District is taking ownership of the new Cheekeye debris barrier, a roughly $100-million asset that taxpayers will have to operate and maintain. These costs sit behind much of the long-term tax plan.
Key facts
- The $5.4-million Jimmy Jimmy (Judd) Slough project, completed July 2026, raised and widened about 900 metres of the Squamish River dike protecting Brackendale and Garibaldi Estates; it was mostly grant-funded and came in under budget. [source]
- Dike upgrades follow the District's 2017 Integrated Flood Hazard Management Plan, which ranked the Judd Slough raise as the top priority. [source]
- The District received a $4-million grant toward downtown flood protection (sea dike) improvements. [source]
- The District takes ownership of the Cheekeye debris barrier in 2026 as diking authority and will be responsible for operations and maintenance; council approved a shared tax approach to fund it. [source]
- Climate resilience and aging infrastructure ranked third (average 3.70 of 9) in the Chief's reader survey. [source]
Agree or disagree?
Where each candidate lands on this statement, from their own questionnaire answers or their public record. Tap a name for the detail.
“The District should increase spending on dikes and flood protection, even if it means higher taxes.”
What does this mean?
Much of Squamish sits on a floodplain and the dikes need work.
Sarah Ellis
Anders Ourom
Jenna Stoner 
Kieran Brownie
Andrew Hamilton
Luc Perreault
Daniel Deal 
Sean Easton 
Laura Prosko
Shaun Veltkamp
A. John Lowe
Chris Ryan6 candidates haven’t said — show names
Eric Andersen
Ian Brown
Janice DesJardins
John French
Sean Goodwin
Chris Pettingill- Sean Easton (for mayor) In the middle
“Flood protection is essential infrastructure, but I'll look at how to fund it without piling more cost onto residents who are already stretched.”
- Jenna Stoner (for mayor) Somewhat agrees
“Much of this town sits on a floodplain with five rivers running through it. Protecting against that isn't optional spending; it's the cost of living where we live. Dollars spent on dike and flood protection should always be matched by provincial or federal dollars.”
- Andrew Hamilton Somewhat agrees
“I think we need to spend more of the funding that we have already allocated.”
- A. John Lowe Strongly disagrees
“This is a job for the Provincial govt.”
- Anders Ourom Strongly agrees
“Public safety, including preparation for emergencies (flooding, highway closures, landslides, earthquakes..) is a priority. Maintenance and upgrades to our dikes, bear safety, and so on are all part of this.”
- Laura Prosko In the middle
“I do not advocate for hiring taxes - as I outline in my Five Point Plan but I am for flood protection. (and emergency preparedness)”
- Chris Ryan Strongly disagrees
“We need to lobby the federal government for these infrastructures”
- Shaun Veltkamp In the middle
“I need to see the case for if we need to spend more, or if the current situation has us in a safe position. IF the experts say we need to spend more and it is a critical issue in their professional opinions, then yes, we should.”
Comments candidates added when answering our questionnaire, unedited.
Other issues
- growth and development
- housing
- homelessness and supportive housing
- policing and community safety
- property taxes and spending
- climate and the Woodfibre LNG plant
- transit and Highway 99
- parking
- jobs and the local economy
- Brennan Park and recreation
- childcare, short-term rentals and vanlife
- the Woodfibre tax deal